Ch. 47 - The Test

Arnor nodded slightly, a cryptic smile at the corner of his mouth. "My friend and I are looking for some special materials. We're planning to write a new 'guide,' you see. Academic research always requires a variety of source materials."

The dwarf's gaze swiveled to Robb, sizing up this unfamiliar face the way a merchant appraises merchandise.

"New friend? He doesn't look like the type who'd be interested in 'guides.' More like the sort who locks himself in his room and buries his nose in books."

"Don't be fooled by appearances, old friend." Arnor casually slid a Mana Crystal Fragment across to the dwarf. "His expertise in certain areas might just surprise you."

The dwarf's hand covered the fragment. Stubby fingers deftly made it vanish into his sleeve, and the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

"These days, very little surprises me, Your Highness. But if you say so, I'm certainly intrigued."

He hopped off his stool and motioned for the two to follow. "Come on, let's talk in the back. A quieter setting is better suited for discussing... academic matters."

The three wove through the tavern's noisy main hall, skirting patrons lost in drink or conversation, and entered a narrow corridor.

Antique oil lamps hung on either side, casting dim light and throwing eerie shadows against the walls.

At the far end stood several identical-looking closed wooden doors.

Otto produced an oddly shaped key from his belt, inspected each door carefully, and finally selected one. He slid the key into the lock.

The instant the key entered, hidden runes on the door flickered briefly, then faded.

The dwarf turned the key with practiced ease. A crisp click, and the lock opened.

Inside was a modest circular room. The walls were hung with various maps and dried herbs, and the air carried a peculiar fragrance, like dozens of herbs blended together.

A round table and several chairs occupied the center. On the table sat a Mana Crystal lamp radiating soft light.

"Please, have a seat." The dwarf locked the door behind them, then nimbly clambered onto a specially made tall chair, peering down at his guests from above.

"Now then, tell me what kind of 'materials' you're after. In here, we can dispense with the tiresome code talk."

Robb glanced at Arnor, who gave a slight nod indicating he could speak freely.

He took a deep breath and produced the special parchment from inside his clothes. "We need these."

Robb carefully revealed only a few of the less sensitive material names, including Moonshade Bat Heart Ash and Crystallized Moss.

Otto took the parchment. His bushy eyebrows gradually climbed, and his blue eyes sparkled with surprise and curiosity.

"Oh? This is no ordinary shopping list."

His fingers lightly traced the shimmering text, then he looked up, his gaze bouncing between the two.

"This 'Crystallized Moss' in particular has been extremely scarce lately. The price has multiplied several times over, it's practically impossible to find on the market."

"Why?" Robb asked reflexively, then realized he might be touching on sensitive territory.

The gray dwarf gave him a long look. The lips beneath his beard pressed into a thin line.

"That falls under our trade's business secrets. Not something I can share with customers."

He paused, seemingly weighing something. "But it's true, the market for rare materials has been far more volatile than usual lately. Especially anything connected to the Mages."

Otto waved a hand. "Anyway, back to business. I can help you find these materials, but it won't be quick, and it won't be cheap. Brace yourselves."

"Roughly how many Mana Crystal Fragments?" Robb asked point-blank, deciding to stop dancing around the issue.

"For the whole list?" Otto counted on his stubby fingers. "Even with just one of each, you're looking at a hundred and seventy to eighty fragments minimum. And a few items might require payment in complete mana stones."

He squinted at Robb, apparently gauging the youth's financial capacity.

"For individual pieces, one or two at a time, most sellers won't even bother with you."

Robb frowned slightly. The price far exceeded his budget.

Had Lady Elena overestimated his finances, or underestimated the current market value of these materials?

After a moment's thought, he said.

"We can buy in batches. Start with the easiest items to source."

Arnor interjected at the right moment, his tone casual but alert. "If we can get samples, we may need to verify quality first. In a place like this, comparison shopping is the wise approach."

"Oh?" Otto looked at Robb with renewed curiosity, blue eyes glinting with interest. "You know how to authenticate these materials? At your age, you don't exactly look like someone with enough experience."

Robb met his gaze steadily, his voice calm but brimming with quiet confidence. "I have some expertise in potioneering."

"Interesting, interesting..."

The dwarf rubbed his dense beard, producing a rasping sound. The mouth beneath it curved upward.

"Usually when potioneering apprentices come to the black market, they bring a reputable appraiser along, wrap themselves up head to toe, terrified of being recognized."

He studied Robb appraisingly.

"But if you can authenticate materials yourself, that does simplify things. However..."

Otto stopped abruptly, a sly glint in his eye. "Boasting is a bad habit, young man."

He retrieved an ornate small wooden box from beneath the table. Its surface was carved with intricate runes, every line faintly luminous.

"You're in luck today, I happen to have some stock on hand. Care to take a look? Let's see just how deep this 'expertise' of yours really goes."

Robb's interest piqued. He nodded. "With pleasure."

He could tell this was some kind of test, but he was confident in his abilities.

Otto opened the box. Inside, several crystal vials and small pouches were neatly arranged.

The room's light struck the bottles, refracting into strange glimmers and adding a touch of mystique.

"Have a look at this." He extracted a small vial containing gray-brown powder and gave it a gentle shake.

"This should be the 'Moonshade Bat Heart Ash' from your list. Fresh stock, just arrived. Top quality."

Robb accepted the vial and examined it carefully with his [Herb Identification] ability.

He tilted the bottle gently, letting the powder catch the light and reveal its true color.

Genuine Moonshade Bat Heart Ash should present a silver-gray hue with a faint blue fluorescence under light.

Most critically, it should emit a distinctive energy fluctuation, one that would cause anyone with keen perception to feel a subtle tremor.

But this gray-brown powder, while similar in texture, clearly lacked the proper mana fluctuation.

The color was too murky as well, resembling ordinary mineral powder, or perhaps a low-grade product that had been refined too many times.

Throughout this process, his skill experience ticked upward.

[Forgery detected! Herb Identification EXP +1]

"I'm afraid this isn't genuine."

Comments